Debian vs Arch Linux
Debian and Arch both refuse to install more than you ask for, but they answer the question of currency differently. Debian 13.6 delivers GNOME 48 and kernel 6.12 as a tested set with 2 GB of memory required; Arch delivers a rolling base with no desktop, a 512 MB floor and a 1,564 MB image.
Side by side
| Debian GNU/Linux | Arch Linux | |
|---|---|---|
| Family | deb | arch |
| Release model | Versioned releases | Rolling release |
| Desktop | GNOME | отсутствует |
| Package manager | APT (dpkg) | pacman |
| Init system | systemd | systemd |
| Immutable root | No | No |
| Wayland by default | Yes | Mixed |
| Minimum RAM | 2 GB | 512 MB |
| ISO size | 3.5 GB | 1.5 GB |
| Latest kernel | 6.12 | 5.10.11 |
| Releases archived | 42 | 10 |
| Latest release | 12 September 2026 | 1 October 2026 |
What differs
Base & packages
Debian's 13.6 snapshot is a complete tested set: GCC 14.2, glibc 2.41, LibreOffice 25.2.3, PostgreSQL 17, PHP 8.4, Python 3.13 and Samba 4.22 on APT with DEB. Arch ships pacman and a base system; its newest ISO snapshot, 2021.02.01, records glibc 2.32 and X.Org Server 1.20.10, with archinstall 2.1.1 offered in the ISO menu.
Desktop & display
Debian installs GNOME 48 with Wayland as the default and keeps an X11 session available through X.Org Server 21.1.16. Arch records no desktop at all and marks Wayland as mixed, since the base system does not choose a session.
Release model
Debian is versioned with point releases: 13.6 on 9 August 2025, and 10.7 from 3 February 2021 still in the data. Arch is rolling, and the archive holds installation media only — 2021.02.01 on 1 February 2021 with kernel 5.10.11, 2021.01.01 with 5.10.3 and 2020.12.01 with 5.9.11.
Hardware requirements
Arch states 512 MB of memory against Debian's 2 GB, and a 1,564 MB image against 3,628 MB. The Arch figure covers a bare base, so it is not a like-for-like comparison with Debian's default desktop.
Init & immutability
Both use systemd — 257 on Debian 13.6, 247 in the Arch snapshot — and neither is immutable. Debian installs a bootloader and a desktop for you; on Arch the bootloader is one more decision during setup.
Verdict
Choose Debian if you want a working system after installation, packages tested together, and a release line kept alive for years. Choose Arch Linux if you want to decide every component yourself, keep one rolling stream instead of periodic upgrades, and are comfortable reading documentation before you begin. The 512 MB floor describes an empty base, not a desktop you would use daily, so compare it with that in mind.
FAQ
Which is easier to keep up to date?
Arch updates continuously, so there is no version upgrade step. Debian moves between point releases such as 13.6 and later major versions, which means larger jumps less often.
Does Debian have a desktop by default?
Yes, GNOME 48 in 13.6. Arch records no desktop, and its 512 MB memory floor applies to the base system before anything graphical is installed.